Man dies after ingesting 'unknown substance' at the Lost Paradise Festival on the Central Coast

The first death in the 15-year history of the “drug-free event” Lost Paradise Festival at Glenworth Valley, west of Gosford, has left organisers “distressed” and re-ignited the pill-testing debate. The man, 22, who police said was from Toowong, near Brisbane, was taken to Gosford Hospital about 8pm on Saturday, but died a short time later.

Two other people, a man and a woman, remain in hospital being treated after ingesting an unknown substance and becoming sick. 

“This is a very distressing incident and our sincerest thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends of the deceased,” a Lost Paradise spokeswoman said. “The matter is the subject of a police investigation and we will continue to cooperate and provide whatever assistance we can

"Lost Paradise is a strictly drug-free event that is about celebrating life, love and nature in a fun, safe and welcoming environment. A great deal of planning and effort goes into ensuring the safety and welfare of our festival-goers and event staff. We work closely with local police to try to ensure festival-goers respect our drug free policy and NSW Ambulance to provide extensive medical support across the festival site.”

Brisbane Water Police District Commander Acting Superintendent Rod Peet said the best safety message was not to take drugs. 

"Police have had a significant response in relation to this event,” Superintendent Peet said. “The planning has been extensive over the last three months. Unfortunately some of those drugs have got through. The methods of secretion are becoming sophisticated. People aren't carrying drugs in their pockets. We've found drugs in Vegemite jars, aerosol containers, and on one instance, someone had stuffed drugs into the stuffing of a barbecue chicken.”

About 11,000 people attended Lost Paradise, which runs from Friday to Tuesday.